Football News

Ryan Giggs: Man United target Daniel James has the talent to “play anywhere”

By Ben Green

Published: 17:16, 29 May 2019

Wales manager and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has offered a ringing endorsement of Daniel James’ versatility, as his former club attempt to sign the winger from Swansea City.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set for a summer rebuild at Old Trafford and reports suggest James is one of the top targets on his wishlist, with the Red Devils confident a move will transpire.

Where would James play at Man Utd? Five key things to know…

  1. Nominally a left winger, James has the capabilities of playing any role in the final third.
  2. The twice-capped Wales international scored five goals and provided seven assists for Swansea across 2018/19.
  3. Known for his blistering speed, James recorded the third-highest fast breaks per 90 minutes (0.25) in the Championship of any player last season.
  4. Since Solskjaer took the reins in December, no club managed more fast breaks (18) in the Premier League than Man Utd.
  5. With the Norwegian instilling a more counter-attacking, pacy brand of football, James should fit smoothly into his system.

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With 11 direct goal contributions in the Championship last term, James was instrumental as the Swans finished 10th in the Championship.

Having picked up two Wales caps and netted his first international goal against Slovakia earlier in the campaign, Giggs has certainly seen plenty of the youngster and he has now waxed lyrical about the winger’s ability to play anywhere across the frontline.

The Wales boss said: “You don’t need to speak to me to see the quality Dan has had, especially from the turn of the year.

“It has been well documented. The transfer breaking down with Leeds, the week after they (Swansea) played Leeds away and he played really well.

“From then really he has kicked on. For me, in the last game, he was fantastic.

“He is a talent and when you have speed like that as well as the temperament that he has, he could play anywhere.”

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James named in Wales squad

Giggs has recently named his 28-man Wales squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Croatia and Hungary, with the Man Utd target among those chosen.

Since the Welshman took the international helm, he has embraced a youthful policy, often calling up teenage talent instead of more experienced professionals.

And he took that to a whole new level with his latest announcement, selecting five teenage starlets, with 18-year-old Man Utd midfielder Dylan Levitt afforded a debut call-up.

This comes only two months after the promising tyro earned his first Wales U-21 call-up, while there was also room in the squad for Schalke’s Rabbi Matondo, Liverpool’s Ben Woodburn, Man City’s Matthew Smith and Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu.